Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-19

CRIMINALS or TIE METROPOLIS ARE 1HlED-HoN
THR CITY HAS pEGsSERArEp IN THE EYES or
BILLY MGLoRT-NlpR Dull Br MORALITY.
Special Correspondence of the Evening Star.
NEW YORK. Nov. Is
Every morning there drives up 20 square brown
building near the city hall big van OF about the
| same color IS the building. A curious and not
| progressing crowd d.sembark from IL and Is es-
corted mp stairs to one OF the three court rooms
where sit the judges OF General Sessions They
are locked up In apartments opening into the
court rooms The scene in one OF these VIII an
| swer as description OF all the rest ana Illustrate
how the busiest and most important criminal
courts OF the metropolis are run. Tho court
rooms are dingy, and crude attempts at better
ventilation for them have not proven successful
The halls leading 10 them are crowded with
molly throng You VIII usually ix among them
az least one man with a black eye and baniaged
nead, and delected-looGing woman with a puny
oa6y In her arms. Nearly every day brings de-
tachment or solemn Cinnamon, accompanied by
an interpreter OF their own race, who looks pros
porous ana wise NJ body OF Italians for whom the
tiaiisatng is done by doughty court interpreter
who SPENDS his leisure moments In porting over a
pocAtt dictionary. Al IL O'Clock one OF the numer-
Gus court officials. wno all look stern and rather
suspicious OF taelr feiow-men shouts Hats on :,
ana thus announces the coming OF the judge. The
cler opens the court with the usually unintelgi-
me manner affected by his kind, aud then the grind
begins. There are perhaps TWENTY-FIVE cases 20 be
disposed Of In each OF the three courts OF General
sessions OF the city, and there Is little time FOR SUI
perfiuous formality. Lawyers press forward 10
lean over the railing, behind which the district
attorney or one OF his assistants sits
o coor vsS ,es approach the bench
buzzing OF conversation between lawyers and
clients becomes so loud that stern court oficial
by long practice the art OF keeping the wheels OF
the courts machinery moving rapidly, Sei1es A
names OF the prisoners. They are frequently
brought in two at time. II speaks well FOR the
onicers OF the law that surprising number Of the
prisoners plead guilty. They are, in the main,
criminal classes q New or, and not infreouentiy
sens o on IN ser 10 pr Mnen the Judge
supplements his sentence with the remark that IL
wolld be better for the community n a prisoner
life-an opinion which many Of the judges OF New
York entertain.
THOSE WHO CONE FOR TRIAL
First come trio OF vicious-looSing boys repre-
sentatives OF the young bandits who prowl about
the streets robbing children, women, and even
men. They have a dialect all their own, and
answer the judges questions in a half-sullen man
NET. They are sent 10 the refuge TO contaminate
10 keep the more depravec lads separate from the
Others in the institution having failed. One OF the
judges is strongly In favor OF noggiag them the
only adequate means OF punishment.
Then Young man, with low forehead and a
panied expression q, countenance, is hurried for
ward 10 the bar and PLEADS guilty of stealing 81 80
and thet he had Just recovered from having the
de.rium trcmens in padded cell at the Tombs
His father, . tail man, vell-known In the city as
an almost fanetical temperance lecturer, comes
forward and eagerly begs the Judge 10 let the
young man or with n light punishment, and he is
cent 10 prison for thirty days and adtured TO mend
his ways. A particularly t1mid looking prisoner.
who is forever stroSing his chin in a nervous man.
ner, is called forward and asked by the stern
clerk whether or not he Is guilty. He says mot
guilty" in an uncertain tone OF voice and then
recognizes the prosecutor, who mods at him and
tries TO conr; the prosecutors favor nv reacSias
forward 20 shake hands With him, but an officer
escorts him back 70 the Prisoners room at q RAPID
day. N
lawyer with round face and spectacles who
has been detained 10 defend youth charged with
setting re TO block In the heart OF the city asks
post ponement OF tae trial because he has the
earache. III gets his hearts desire and then the
clerk calls the name OF prisoner on ball Two
shouts fail 10 summon him and the CLERK shouts
for the business men who went his hail 90 produce
the prisoner. The business man fails 10 do H. and
the entry .'oail forfeited" which means so much
TO the business man, is made the record OF the
case.
young and comely wornan, who has been
stealing quantity OF woinen's clothing and a
boys oyercoat, pleads guilty TO the THEFT and the
| judge, who sometimes INDUCES in grim jokc
asks her what IN the world she wanted CT q soy !
cyercoat. With lack OF speech surprising IN a
woman, she makes no reply. Size H. sentenced 10
State prison, ert naniicsis no emotion when She
learns her fate Very few tears are wasted an these
courts OF General sessions, although they are the
channels through wkich now the current OF the
principal crininal cases that develop in the
metropolis.
DRIVEN 10 cRINE.
A young man, charged with picking pockets ad-
m.ts that he has been in state prison, but SAYS
that he was driven to crime because the story OF
his former Imprisonment followed him and drove
him from work. He grows eloquent as he tells his
sad story. but the court has TO sentence him 20
long term In State prison. and he walks away with
the suspicion OF moisture in bis eyes. A very
black man, charged with stealing pool ticket,
pleads not guilty, says he has no money 10 hire a
lawyer. The judge calls on a young lawyer, near
the railing fronting the bar, to take the case
The attorney looks not pleased, for he Is allowed
no money for his service. As officer OF the
court. however. he is compelled to undertake it
and withdraws TO consult with hts dusky client.
Thus the machinery grinds on. The grand Jury
cones in. and all other business waits until they
polled and have handed up their huge pack ge
o. Indictments. The grand Jury is always IN ses-
as soon another IS discharged. There Is a brief
recess at 20 O'Clock, and the Judge retires TO eat
q luncheon brought 10 his room IRON a restaurant
Half an hour laier the grind begins again Those
who have wished 70 plead have been disposed o. at
the morning session, and the afternoon Is devoted
10 the trial OF jury case. Occasionally the trial
is suspended for a moment 20 permit some pr1s-
oner 10 plead. one neatly clad woman, with a
careworn face, tO.tered TO the bar one day last
week to answer 10 the charge OF seJtng fire 10 her
oner OF the day. IL was shown that she had no
motive for the Coed, and was a worthy woman.
She was discharged and was so moved at being
acquitted that she tottered from the COURTROOM
fairly falling at the door as she went out.
AMOS j. CUMMINGS
BILLY M'GLoRY's VIEW OF NEW YORK.